Comestible slicing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Slicing apparatus having a magazine with upright product receptacles for carrying comestible workbodies in a circular path past a rotating knife in a table recess to sever slices from the bottom of workbodies, product followers slidable on receptacle guides to urge workbodies toward the knife, table height adjustment for controlling the thickness of slices being severed, a fluid-pressure actuated ram for lifting the product followers, a unitary plastic or like guard for the knife, and a power driven variable speed rotatable circular table below the knife for receiving the sliced products and conveying them from the vicinity of the knife.

United States Patent [191 Bettcher Aug. 27, 1974 COMESTIBLE SLICING APPARATUS Louis A. Bettcher, Amherst, Ohio The Bettcher Industries, Inc., Birmingham, Ohio Filed: Sept. 24, 1973 Appl. No.: 400,344

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 215,462, Jan. 5, 1972, Pat. No. 3,782,230.

Inventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl...., 83/161, 83/167, 83/411 A Int. Cl B2611 7/06, B26d 7/ 12 Field of Search 83/167, 411 A, 161, 91,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,194,289 7/1965 Lundell 83/91 3,310,087 3/1967 Werder et al. 83/41] A X Primary Examiner-Willie G. Abercrombie Attorney, Agent, or FirmWatts, Hoffman, Fisher & Heinke workbodies toward the knife, table height adjustment for controlling the thickness of slices being severed, a fluid-pressure actuated ram for lifting the product followers, a unitary plastic or like guard for the knife, and a power driven variable speed rotatable circular table below the knife for receiving the sliced products and conveying them from the vicinity of the knife.

3 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED 15271974 3.8313475 sum 1 or {i COMESTIBLE SLICING APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application, Ser. No. 215,462, filed Jan. 5, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,230.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to comestible product cutters in which the product to be cut is moved over a cutter rotatable about a stationary vertical axis.

2. Description of the Prior Art Slicing apparatus of the general character to which the present invention is known, is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,519. Apparatus of the character referred to has been provided with endless conveyors for conveying the sliced products away from the apparatus but such conveyors are expensive and in many instances difficult to properly connect with the other parts of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel and improved inexpensive slicing apparatus comprising a magazine rotatable about a vertical axis and having upright receptacles for slidably supporting comestible workbodies to be slided past a circular knife rotating about a stationary vertical axis offset from the axis of the magazine, a vertically adjustable table upon which the lower ends of the workbodies rest, except while they are being sliced, the vertical position of which controls the thickness of the slice being cut, and a power driven variable speed rotatable circular table for conveying the product slices from the vicinity of the knife, which table spaces the operator from the moving parts of the apparatus, and makes it unnecessary for the operator to reach underneath the rotating knife while the apparatus is in operation, and displays the product slices individually to the operator for inspection as to quality, grade, etc., and sorting if desired.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter referred to and others will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of slicing apparatus embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 having an option attachment thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The slicing apparatus shown in the drawings, and designated generally by the reference character A, is generally similar to that shown in the aforesaid'US. Pat. No. 3,782,230, except for the differences hereinafter referred to, and only those parts of the apparatus necessary for an understanding of the present invention are herein shown and described.

The slicing apparatus shown comprises a two-level stationary base B having fixedly secured to its upper part 12 a vertically extending tubular member upon the exterior of which a workbody supporting table 16, having a downwardly extending tubular boss, is supported for vertical adjustment by means of a hand wheel 18 threaded onto an upwardly projecting threaded member fixed to the top of the part 12 of the base B and against the upper part of which hand wheel the lower end of a tubular member fixed to the under side of the table 16 abuts.

The product magazine assembly M comprises a circular base plate 20 having a central supporting hub and one or more openings, in the present instance three, through which a workbody in receptacles 22, of which there are three, on the plate 20, can pass downward through the plate, rest upon the table 16, and be carried across the circular knife upon rotation of the magazine. The receptacles 22 are constructed to slidably support a workbody in an upright position, to accommodate a workbody follower or biasing member 24, and to utilize the inertia of the workbody follower to exert downward force upon the workbody when the receptacle is rotated about a vertical axis parallel with but offset with respect to the axis of rotation of the circular knife.

The receptacles 22 are positioned at the trailing edges of the openings in the plate 20 which openings are substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of the receptacles, extending beyond the longitudinal opening of the respective receptacle associated therewith so that 'a workbody of greater horizontal depth than the receptacle can be accommodated. Each receptacle 22 is inclined down and back relative to its direction of the rotation and the plane of the plate'20 between l and 15 from the vertical, preferably 2 to 3. In operation the receptacle guides a workbody and a workbody follower in a downward, slightly inclined direction. In addition to the weight of the followers the inclination of the flanges along which they slide tends to drive the follower downward when the magazine assembly is rotated and if contact of the workbody with the knife tends to life the workbody in a vertical direction, the effective lifting force upon the workbody follower is reduced due to the inclination of the guides.

A projection 26 extends generally horizontally from the side of each of the workbody followers 24 which projection can be engaged by a power-actuated lifting mechanism to raise the workbody followers to facilitate loading or unloading the receptacles.

The knife is provided with a unitary guard 28 resting upon and supported by the knife. The guard comprises a crescent-shaped portion or part having a downwardly extending arcuate flange along its convex edge, the inner wall of which extends around and protects that portion of the periphery of the knife which is not undemeath the table 16.

The upper side of the guard 28 has an arcuate cutout portion which forms an arcuate concave wall spaced from but conforming essentially to the circumference of the plate 20. The upper surface of that portion of the guard which is beneath the magazine M is flush with the upper surface of the knife so that the product being sliced will slide smoothly from the knife to the guard and back over the knife. Both the magazine and the knife are rotated counterclockwise and the guard 28 has a tendency to rotate with the knife but such rotation is limited or prevented by the engagement of a stop formed as an integral part of the guard and projecting The apparatus thus far described is similar to that shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,230.

Product slices severed from workbodies in the receptacles 22 as the magazine assembly M rotates drop upon the radially outer part of a rotatable horizontal product receiving round or circular table 30 fixed to a vertical shaft 32 projecting upwardly from a cylindrical housing 34. The housing 34 is fixed to the front bar 36 of a support bracket resting at thetop 40 of the lower level of the base B and preferably removable connected thereto. The housing 34 encloses an electric motor and a variable speed drive for rotating the table 30. The drive for the table 30 is not shown in detail as its particular construction forms no part of the present invention. Suffice it to say that the speed of the table is controlled by manual movement of a lever 40 extending from the housing 34 underneath the receiving table 30.

The diameter of the round product receiving table 30 is preferably about twice that of the magazine assembly M and the axis of rotation of the receiving table is par-, allel with and offset from the axis of both the magazine M and the workbody supporting table 16 an appreciable distance, preferably a distance equal to about onequarter of the diameter of the receiving table. The construction is such that the radial outer part of the table projects underneath the workbody support table and the knife at the leading edge of the workbody support table, referring to the direction of rotation of the magazine M. The product slices as produced drop on the radially outer part of the rotating circular receiving table 30 and as the table continues to rotate are individually displayed to the operator for inspection, grading, etc., and can be readily removed manually from the product receiving table for grading, etc., if desired, without any necessity for the operator to reach underneath the knife. Alternatively, a suitable product deflector, such as, the deflector assembly D, can be installed above the table for deflecting the sliced products into a container or onto a continuous conveyor for further processing.

The product deflector assembly D rests upon the receiving table 30 and comprises a spiral shape member 50 having a boss 52 at one end fitting loosely over the projecting end of the shaft 32 to which the table 30 is connected. From the shaft 32 the member 50 extends in an arc to the outer edge of the table 30 so as to deflect product slices from the table 30 as it rotates underneath the assembly D. An upwardly extending stop 52 on the member 50 abuts against the workbody supporting table 16 and prevents rotation of the assembly D with the receiving table 30. The assembly D shown also includes an arcuate member 54 adjacent the edge of the table 30 for preventing product slices from falling off of the table prior to reaching the discharge location adjacent the outermost end of the member 50.

The product followers 24, guard 28 and table top are preferably made of a suitable non-toxic or edible plas tic, for example, an acrylonitrile-buIodine-styrene copolymer or Nylon. The use of such a plastic is-particularly advantageous as they are nonporous, will not absorb bacteria, are highly resistant to acids and alkalines, have a clean appearance, becomes white with age, have adequate weight to ridge properly on the knife, do not warp or bend, have low coefficients of friction, are easily cleaned, and are poor conductors of heat which is advantageous in apparatus used to slice frozen products.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a novel and improved slicing machine having upright receptacles for carrying comestible workbodies above a knife rotatable about a vertical axis in combination with a conveyor for removing product slices from the vicinity of the knife which conveyor is simple in construction, inexpensive to provide and which does not complicate the design or interfere with the operation of other parts of the apparatus.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, the invention is not limited to the construction shown and/or described but may be incorporated in other apparatus and it is the intention to hereby cover all adaptations, modifications and use of the invention which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which it pertains and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Cutting apparatus for severing slices from a comestible workbody comprising: a workbody carrier rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and having an upright receptacle for the workbody and an opening on its lower side through which the workbody can project, a circular knife below a part of the workbody carrier rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of said workbody carrier, a workbody support below part of said workbody carrier which does not overlie said knife having a planar upper surface lower than the cutting edge of said knife, power means for rotating said knife, power means for rotating said workbody carrier whereby said receptacle is repeatedly moved past said knife to sever the end of a workbody projecting downwardly through the opening at the lower side of the workbody carrier, and a circular table below said workbody support and said knife at the leading edge of said workbody support referring to the direction of rotation of said magazine rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset with respect to the axes of rotation of said workbody carrier and said knife.

2. Cutting apparatus for severing slices from a comestible workbody comprising: a workbody carrier rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and having an upright receptacle for the workbody and an opening on its lower side through which the workbody can project, a circular knife below a part of the workbody carrier rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of said workbody carrier, a workbody support below part of said workbody carrier which does not overlie said knife having a planar upper surface lower than the cutting edge of said knife, power means for rotating said knife, power means for rotating said workbody carrier whereby said receptacle is repeatedly moved past said knife to sever the end of a workbody projecting downwardly through the opening at the lower side of the workbody carrier, a circular table below said workbody support and said knife at the leading edge of said workbody support referring to the direction of rotation of said magazine rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset with respect to the axes of rotation of said workbody carrier and said knife, and power means for rotating said circular table.

3. Cutting apparatus for severing slices from a comestible workbody comprising: a workbody carrier rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and having an upright receptacle for the workbody and an opening on its lower side through which the workbody can project, a circular knife below a part of the workbody carrier rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of said workbody carrier, a workbody support below part of said workbody carrier which does not overlie said knife having a planar upper surface lower than the cutting edge of said knife, power means for rotating said knife,

power means for rotating said workbody carrier whereby said receptacle is repeatedly moved past said knife to sever the end of a workbody projecting downwardly through the opening at the lower side of the slices from said table as it rotates. 

1. Cutting apparatus for severing slices from a comestible workbody comprising: a workbody carrier rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and having an upright receptacle for the workbody and an opening on its lower side through which the workbody can project, a circular knife below a part of the workbody carrier rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of said workbody carrier, a workbody support below part of said workbody carrier which does not overlie said knife having a planar upper surface lower than the cutting edge of said knife, power means for rotating said knife, power means for rotating said workbody carrier whereby said receptacle is repeatedly moved past said knife to sever the end of a workbody projecting downwardly through the opening at the lower side of the workbody carrier, and a circular table below said workbody support and said knife at the leading edge of said workbody support referring to the direction of rotation of said magazine rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset with respect to the axes of rotation of said workbody carrier and said knife.
 2. Cutting apparatus for severing slices from a comestible workbody comprising: a workbody carrier rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and having an upright receptacle for the workbody and an opening on its lower side through which the workbody can project, a circular knife below a part of the workbody carrier rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of said workbody carrier, a workbody support below part of said workbody carrier which does not overlie said knife having a planar upper surface lower than the cutting edge of said knife, power means for rotating said knife, power means for rotating said workbody carrier whereby said receptacle is repeatedly moved past said knife to sever the end of a workbody projecting downwardly through the opening at the lower side of the workbody carrier, a circular table below said workbody support and said knife at the leading edge of said workbody support referring to the direction of rotation of said magazine rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset with respect to the axes of rotation of said workbody carrier and said knife, and power means for rotating said circular table.
 3. Cutting apparatus for severing slices from a comestible workbody comprising: a workbody carrier rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and having an upright receptacle for the workbody and an opening on its lower side through which the workbody can project, a circular knife below a part of the workbody carrier rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of said workbody carrier, a workbody support below part of said workbody carrier which does not overlie said knife having a planar upper surface lower than the cutting edge of said knife, power means for rotating said knife, power means for rotating said workbody carrier whereby said receptacle is repeatedly moved past said knife to sever the end of a workbody projecting downwardly through the opening at the lower side of the workbody carrier, a circular table below said workbody support and said knife at the leading edge of said workbody support referring to the direction of rotation of said magazine rotatable about an axis parallel with and offset with respect to the axes of rotation of said workbody carrier and said knife, power means for rotating said circular table, and a product deflector member at the top side of said circular table for deflecting product slices from said table as it rotates. 